Tuesday, 6 January 2009

Went to My Doctor

One night I was layin' down,
I heard mama 'n papa talkin'
I heard papa tell mama,
"You gotta let that boy boogie-woogie,
Cause it's in him, and it 's got to come out."
John Lee Hooker
Boogie Chillen (1948)


I went to see my doctor this morning, because I've spent five weeks struggling with this chest infection, and nothing seems to shift it, and I spent Christmas and New Year in the company of friends who were convinced I had some rare weird Bruce Chatwin disease, and was going to succumb to pneumonia.

The doctor examined my chest very carefully, and gave me some medication and some advice , which I am going to take, and I trust that will sort me out. She also asked me to try going for a walk every day - something I have been avoiding because the damp winter air brings on violent coughing spasms - and stop taking the cough medicine I've been taking.

I need to cough, she says. Even if it means I am on my hands and knees on all fours and in pain. This is very counter-intuitive.


Unlike John Lee Hooker, I do not feel so good, and I am not going to boogie all night long.

Went to my doctor yesterday
She said I seem to be O.K.
She said
"Paul, you better look around
How long you think that you can
Run that body down?
How many nights you think that you can
Do what you been doin'
Who you foolin?"

I came back home and I went to bed
I was resting my head
My wife came in and she said
"What's wrong, sweet boy, what's wrong?"
Ah, I told her what's wrong
I said "Peg, you better look around
How long you think that you can
Run that body down?
How many nights you think that you can
Do what you been doin'
Now, who you foolin?"

Kid, you better look around
How long you think that you can
Run that body down?
How many nights you think that you can
Do what you been doin'
Who you foolin?
PAUL SIMON

4 comments:

Romeo Morningwood said...

Counter intuitive indeed but you need to hack all that crap out of those nice pink lungs. It has been very cold for the last while (-30s)and the air cuts into your lungs but I am old school and believe that it shocks and cleans them out..
just as the Papa believed in the miracle of drinking windex as a cure-all in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I see that you have a Lady-Doctor..how's that workin' out for ya? Very professional I'm sure but can you discuss everything? Everything?

Perfect Virgo said...

Glad you have seen the doc to get this sorted. Her having you on all fours in her surgery seems a trifle unconventional (if you'll excuse my old-fashionedness)! A troublesome hacking cough (a la Bob Flemming) and the resultant goo can be ticklishly humerous until your lungs remind you how vital they are to your survival.

Mel said...

Oh, now that sounds like GOOD fun.....(not!!)


Ohhhhhhhhh.....you poor thing...

<-- hates being unwell

Gordie said...

Well, yes, I wasn't on all fours in the surgery I was just worried by vomiting. How ill do you have to be before you lose interest in weird sex? Less ill than this.